The ability of organizations to realize business value from data increasingly depends on their capacity to collect, process, store and analyze it at the Edge, new research from Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, suggests.
As networks become increasingly congested with huge volumes of data generated from user and IoT devices, IT leaders are recognizing that analyzing real-time data nearer to the Edge yields greater efficiencies and insights, which results in improved business outcomes. According to the UAE results of a global study of 2,400 IT decision-makers (ITDMs), 61% of UAE enterprises are already actively using Edge technologies to deliver new outcomes, with another 14% planning to do so in the next year. There is also a growing recognition (86%) of the urgency around the need to implement integrated systems to handle data at the Edge.
“This research suggests that the vast majority of IT leaders are already embracing the Edge or are preparing to,” said Jacob Chacko, Regional Business Head – Middle East, Saudi & South Africa (MESA) at HPE Aruba. “Developing an Edge strategy against the backdrop of existing cloud implementations is becoming a necessity as the number of connected devices increases and it becomes impractical to transfer vast volumes of data to a cloud or data center environment, especially as organizations undergo digital transformation to advance their business objectives and address customer needs.”
The survey findings form part of a report entitled, “At the Edge of Change: Navigating the New Data Era,” that assesses the implications of the shift in data processing from cloud to Edge, how ITDMs are responding to this trend, the opportunities the Edge presents for a number of major industries and the critical role networking plays in this transformation. Key findings reveal:
Organizations are Drowning in Data, Yet See the Edge as a Solution
The benefits of Edge technologies are becoming increasingly important as ITDMs grapple with the growing amounts of data generated within their networks and look towards the cost and latency advantages of storing and processing it at the Edge.
Boosting Efficiency and Creating New Experiences Ranked at the Top
ITDMs cite a variety of benefits from capturing and analyzing data at the Edge, from operational efficiencies to the opportunity to create new products, services and revenue streams.
Concerns Over Cost, Skills and Security Abound
While ITDMs show a growing interest in processing and analyzing data at the Edge, they are also concerned about various barriers to adoption.
Bridging Edge to Cloud
“Harnessing insights at the Edge is an opportunity for enterprises to revolutionize their approach to data and unlock its value as a business asset,” concludes Chacko.“Organizations that can process, store and analyze data at the Edge will be able to use that data first to optimize their existing business model, and over time, will develop innovative products, services and experiences that will not only augment, but transform their offerings for customers and employees.”
To find more about Aruba’s flexible IT solutions go to: https://www.arubanetworks.com/solutions/technology-solutions/
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